Seeing Kurama really transform into the form of Ahri, Shishou maintained a calm exterior, but inside, he was laughing hysterically.
"Oh, Kurama, I never thought I'd see the day!" he thought to himself.
Clearing his throat, Shishou addressed KD Ahri Kurama with a serious expression, "Now, I need to start searching for Kushina. However, I'll need your assistance."
KD Ahri Kurama, lying on the ground and adjusting to the human form, replied in Ahri's voice, "What do you need me to do?"
Kurama clearly struggled with the human body, feeling awkward and out of place.
"Naturally, we need to unlock the seal..." Shishou said, floating over to the center of the seal and placing his hand on the seal tag. With a swift motion, he tore it off, revealing the swirling pattern of the sealing mechanism beneath.
His hand began to glow with the symbols of a sealing release technique taught to him by the shrine maiden Miroku. As Shishou pressed his hand against the seal, Kurama's eyes widened in surprise and then glee.
He couldn't believe Shishou was actually going to release him.
At that moment, a figure with fiery red hair appeared beside Shishou, grabbing his arm.
"Stop!" Kushina's voice rang out. "Do you really intend to release the Nine-Tails?"
Shishou was momentarily stunned. He felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he had heard those words somewhere before.
Looking at the semi-transparent figure of Kushina, who appeared even more ethereal than the Fourth Hokage, Shishou withdrew his hand and reapplied the seal tag.
"Don't worry, I was just making a show of it. I wasn't actually going to release Kurama," he explained, glancing at Kushina. Inwardly, he added, "Unless you showed up."
"You ****..." Kurama cursed, realizing he had been tricked by Shishou yet again. This was the second time Shishou had played him in the same manner.
However, Kushina's next words immediately silenced Kurama.
"Kurama, why do you look like that?" she asked, puzzled by Kurama's KD Ahri appearance. "When did you develop such a fetish?"
Kurama's face flushed red with embarrassment. Encountering an old acquaintance in this form was mortifying. With a cold huff, Kurama retreated into the depths of the seal, vanishing from sight.
"Well, that was interesting," Shishou mused, enjoying the fox's discomfort.
As Kurama disappeared, Kushina turned to Shishou, about to ask why he had come. But before she could speak, Shishou pulled out a golden insect egg.
"Kushina, do you want to be revived?" Shishou asked quickly. "Do you want to see Naruto again?"
Kushina's eyes widened at the mention of Naruto. "Yes..." she replied instinctively.
In the next moment, the golden insect egg in Shishou's hand emitted a brilliant light. As the light faded, Kushina vanished, her essence now inside the egg.
Shishou smiled triumphantly.
[Soul Medium Egg: A mystical egg birthed by the Jueyou Lingworm after absorbing energy from another dimension. It can house the soul of a near-death person, allowing for their rebirth.]
The Soul Medium Egg required the person to verbally express a desire to live in order to activate, which was why Shishou had quickly asked Kushina those questions to confuse her into saying she wanted to be revived.
Returning to reality, Shishou noted that half an hour had passed. He took out the golden egg, now containing Kushina's soul, and examined it with satisfaction.
He admired the system item, amazed that it could manifest in the subconscious space.
Carefully wrapping the egg in cloth, Shishou placed it securely in his pocket. He then stealthily moved through the room, careful not to disturb the sleeping Naruto, Shikamaru, and the others.
Leaving the house, Shishou noticed the ANBU squad watching him but ignored them as he headed back home.
In his underground lab, Shishou carefully inspected the egg containing Kushina's soul.
Originally, he had planned to revive Kushina immediately after obtaining the Soul Medium Egg. However, Naruto's constant surveillance by the Third Hokage and the ANBU had delayed his plans.
Finally, today, he had found the opportunity. Though his recent focus on adapting to Sage energy had also contributed to the delay.
"She needs six months of rest to fully awaken," Shishou noted from the system feedback. Considering the complexities of rebirth, six months seemed reasonable.
Placing the egg in a wooden box, he set up a defensive barrier around it, as taught by Miroku, to protect against ordinary ninjutsu attacks.
"I wonder how this egg manages to revive someone," Shishou mused aloud before teleporting to Hoshigakure.
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade listened intently as the Third Hokage recounted recent events, particularly the rise of the Akatsuki. When he mentioned the masked man using Wood Release, her brows furrowed.
Tsunade waited patiently until the Third Hokage finished his account. She realized that while most of the information from Mei Terumi was accurate, it deliberately omitted key details about her and Shishou's identities.
"Is this Shishou trying to hide his true identity?" she wondered, biting her thumbnail in thought. Should she reveal the truth to her teacher? Would it make him angry?
Pondering these questions, Tsunade's thoughts were interrupted when the Third Hokage mentioned Danzo's assassination attempt on a collaborator.
Knowing she was back, the Third Hokage planned to gradually cede power to her, making her the next Hokage. These matters were essential for her to know.
"Teacher, why do you still tolerate Danzo's actions?" Tsunade questioned, frowning at the Third Hokage.